Rece Davis and Pete Thamel discuss a remarkable day for college football, what they’ll remember about the College Football Playoff semifinals 10 years from now, Michigan’s ill-fated Philly Special, Stetson Bennett’s perfect fourth quarter, early thoughts on a Georgia-TCU title game, CJ Stroud’s epic performance in a losing effort, the end of an era for the Rose Bowl, Kevin Warren’s candidacy to run the Bears, and whether Jim Harbaugh and Ryan Day will stick around. 

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Rece Davis and Pete Thamel discuss TCU against Michigan in the College Football Playoff semifinal, Max Duggan having some Jim Harbaugh in him, Michigan being in complete alignment and how the Horned Frog defense could trip up the Wolverines. Then, Bill Connelly stops by to talk about if TCU can force Michigan to throw the ball, if we’ll get a classic game in the semifinals, which team can pull an upset and Pete's bonus lookahead question. Plus, the guys pick the semifinals, and the rest of Saturday and Monday’s games.

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Rece Davis and Pete Thamel discuss an Elmo-themed Christmas in the Thamel household, Drake Maye deciding to stay at North Carolina, Maye speaking to offensive coordinator candidates, coaches being unwilling to police themselves, if Ohio State’s offensive line can contain Jalen Carter, how the Buckeyes respond after losing to Michigan, which playoff quarterback they’d pick to win two games, the main storyline of the playoff, how TCU stays in the game against the Wolverines, Rece’s trip to Buc-cee’s, and chili and cinnamon rolls.

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Rece Davis returns from vacation alongside Pete Thamel to discuss their adopted Jaguars’ walk-off win over the Cowboys, five-star quarterback Dante Moore flipping from Oregon to UCLA, Bo Nix returning to Oregon, where all of this leaves DJ Uiagalelei, Rece’s first-time experiences with Mike Leach, which teams are motivated in the bowls leading up to Christmas, why you shouldn't trust Liberty against Toledo and Rece’s time in Disney World.

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Pete Thamel and Bill Connelly lead off the podcast with the breaking news of Massachusetts governor Charlie Baker signing on as new NCAA president. The guys talk about whether the job matters anymore and the problems Baker is walking into. Then, they get into Navy firing Ken Niumatalolo and Purdue hiring Ryan Walters. Later, they discuss the early batch of bowl games including an exciting matchup between UTSA and Troy, Oregon State's uptick, and Jim Mora's UConn revival.

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Pete Thamel and David Pollack discuss the passing of Mississippi State head football coach Mike Leach. They get into how different Leach was from everyone else in his profession, how he ushered in a new era of football, what a Leach production meeting was like before calling game, Leach’s fascination with Whitey Bulger, his coaching tree and if he is the best “bad job” coach in college football history. Then, Greg McElroy stops by to talk about Leach’s belief in him as a high school quarterback, how Leach evaluated quarterbacks, Leach keeping McElroy on his toes after decommitting from Texas Tech, Leach’s commitment to his beliefs and his influence across the sport. 

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Rece Davis and Pete Thamel discuss why Phil Longo leaving North Carolina for Wisconsin raised their eyebrows, Rece’s night at the National Football Foundation and his picture with Andrew Luck. Then, David Pollack hops on to talk about if he’d take Caleb Williams or Drake Maye in the NFL draft today, when college football will finally be rid of the NCAA and his multiple Christmas trees. Later, Bill Connelly on whether Georgia caught a tough draw against Ohio State, his excitement for UTSA-Troy in the Duluth Trading Cure Bowl, why Scott Satterfield thinks it’ll work in Cincinnati when it didn’t at Louisville, and Christmas biscuit recipes.

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Rece Davis and Pete Thamel discuss the four teams in the College Football Playoff semifinal, the committee going through a process of elimination for the final spot, the most interesting thing about the semis, why Ohio State is equipped to beat Georgia, Max Duggan gutting it out in a losing effort, what makes this Michigan team great, what an expanded playoff would look like this year, other bowl games they’re excited to watch and Colorado hiring Deion Sanders

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Rece Davis, Pete Thamel and Bill Connelly make their conference championship picks in the Race for the Ribeye and discuss the case for hiring a football coach before hiring an athletic director, if Scott Frost will get another shot in the AAC, if Utah can score enough against USC, pucker power in the Big 12 title game, the MAC championship eluding Ohio, if Stetson Bennett IV can add an SEC title to his resume, if Tulane can punch a Cotton Bowl ticket, the Boise State turnaround, if anyone can talk themselves into Purdue and the consolation prize ACC title game.

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Rece Davis and Pete Thamel discuss the lack of good options for the playoff if one of the top four loses this weekend, which of the top four is most likely to be upset, intense Irish interest in the quarterback market, Hudson Card entering the transfer portal, Hugh Freeze’s introduction at Auburn, what’s keeping Pete’s phone alive and if Deion Sanders would take the Colorado job.

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